Portable sparking lighter



June m m2& 1,7431% G. BETTINI PORTABLE SPARKING LI GHTER Filed May 29, 1926 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED GIANNI- BETTINI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE SPARK IING LIGHTER.

Application filed May 29, 1926. Serial No. 112,482.

This invention relates to portable lighters, and with respect to its more specific features to lighters employing a sparking member and which are adapted conveniently to be carried in the pocket or in a small case.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a lighter otthe character referred to which shall be especially practical and convenient in use.

Another object of the invention is the promany of the objections pertaining to such devices when used by the fair sex.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a portable lighter of the character referred to, the s arking action of which may he certainly e ected merely by a setting of the operating parts in a certain relative positicn,the setting requiring no skill or particular ability on the part of the operator, the whole action being readily accomplished by'one hand.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable lighter of the character described in which the sparking member may be renewed by simple manipulation and without dismantling the device.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope or the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away to more clearly show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, on a smaller scale, and with the operating lever in a different position.

' Fig. 3 is a view looking at the top of Fig. 2 and partly in section, and with some of the parts removed to more clearly disclose details. t

Fig. 4 illustrates a portion of the device in vertical, longitudinal section, on line 44.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a modified form of wick cover and its actuating device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of Fig. 5, on line 6--6.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view, in elevation, of a further modification.

Referring now more specifically. to the drawing, and particularly to the form illus- 'trated in Figs. 1 to 4, the frame and metal fuel reservoir is indicated by the numeral 1, having a filling opening at the top, closed by a pivoted lid 2. Opening into the end wall of the reservoir is a tube 3, which may be closed by a cap or strap 4:, the tube 3 being closed at its inner end and ada ted to serve as a receptacle, partitioned rom the fuel, as, for instance, a receptacle for a lip stick. On the side wall of the reservoir is a large glass mirror 5. I

A wick leads from the kerosene, or other liquid fuel, in the reservoir through the top 6. Adjacent the top, or lighting end, oi the wick is the sparking member 7 and the abrader member 8, the wick being in the path of sparks coming from the sparking member. The sparking member may be made of a pyrophoric alloy, as, for instance, an alloy containing cerium and iron. The abrader member may be of steel. I

For pressing the abrader and sparking members into contact with each other, the spring 9 is employed. in the embodiment illustrated the spring is of bow shape, one I end pressing against the rear of the sparking member 7, and the other end having an eye engaging a pin 10 at the end of an adjusting screw 11 working in a stationary lug 12 upstanding from top 6. Partially surrounding and guiding the member 7 is ashort channel member or guide 13, slotted at its bottom, .as at 14, for passage of the end of spring 9. In the upper end of the lighter is the recess 15, into which spring 9 may exlltlll) tendand by the wall of which this spring is restrained from lateral movement, and kept 13, so as to permit discharge of one sparking member 7 and replacement by another, with I out dismantling the device.

- bers may be the In the present embodiment the relative movement between the abrader 8 and the sparker 7 to produce sparking is effected by a spring 16. Although either of these memart moved to effect such result, and thoug these members may be of different shape from that illustrated, in the present embodiment the abrader member 8 is the member directly moved by the spring and is a wheel or of disc shape and has teeth on its periphery whereby it is adapted more effectively to abrade the member 7. For connecting the spring 16 to the! abrader member 8, the latter is afiixed to a shaft 17, rotatably mounted in the lighter. Extending from the top 6 is a tubular bearing member 18, the shaft 17 being supported in a stationary block 19, carried in the tubular member 18. At its upper end the shaft extends through and bears in a plate 20 which is spaced above and fixed to the top 6, as

will appear more particularly hereinafter.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the spring 16 is of helical form and has .one end fixed to the stationary block 19,

the other end being fixed toshaft 17, which latter extends through the spring.

Afiixed to the upper end of shaft 17 is a manually operable lever, the handle arm 21 of which is relatively long, the lever also having a relatively short nose 22, which de-- pends toward top 6 and is adapted to actuate a wick-cover. In Fig. 2 the handle arm 21 lies close to the side wall of the reservoir 1, and at its end 23, this armprojects from the adjacent lighter part so as readil to permit it to be manipulated by the nger of the hand of the user. Also in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the adjacent part of the lighter provides a stop to arrest movement of the arm 21. As shown, the lug 12 serves the purpose of the stop referred to.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a vapor chamber is provided adjacent the wick 23. Depending from the bearing plate is the flange 24, which in conjunction with the bearing plate and the adjacent portion of the top 6 provides the vapor chamber. Lateral 'projection of flange 24 provides the guide 13 hereinbefore mentioned. The lightmg end of wick 23 emerges into the vapor chamber, and vapor and oil tend to accumulate in this chamber, so that when sparking occurs, this vapor and oil becomes ignited and assist in igniting the wick. The wick may be any substance capable of being 1gnited by the sparks. In the present embodiment it is of cotton providing fine threads, or tinder, at the end to be lighted.

Immediately above the wick the vapor chamber has an opening adapted to be opened path of the nose 22 of the manually operable lever. Carried by the wick cover arm are two flat surfaces 28 and 29 adapted to cooperate wit-h the plate spring 30, which latter thereby yield'ingly holds the wick cover in either open or closed position relative to the opening in the vapor chamber. Then the cover closes said opening the flame of the wick is snuffed out. When the cover is open, the flame is conveniently accessible.

When the lighter is in the pocket or bag, the parts are generally in the relation shown in Fig. 2. Upon removal from the pocket the leve arm 21 may readily be rotated by a finger of the hand in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2. This action will result in altering the tension of the spring 16 so as to impart thereto tension as required to effect relative movement between the abrader and the sparking member, and upon release of the lever, the spring 16 will cause the abrader member quickly to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the sparking member 7, and the resultant friction and abrasion will result in p oduction ofa shower of sparks which will be directed toward and light the wick. During the movement of the lever in the direction of the arrow, the wick cover 25 will be moved from the opening in the,

vaporizer chamber, so that the wick will be exposed to theair preliminary to the sparking. The initial opening movement of the wick cover is effected by the nose 22 of the manually operative lever. Toward the end of the opening movement of the wick cover, the spring 30 will cooperate with the flat face 29, to complete its movement and to hold it in open position and to hold the arm 27 out of the path of the nose 22. The return or retractive movement of the manually operable lever is also quickly effected by the spring 16, being arrested by the handie 21 coming into contact with the stop before mentioned, and when so arrested the lever is in initial position ready for a sucscreen member may be shaken out of the guide and replaced by another. For best efficiency a portion of the vapor chamber should be in the path of the sparks between the sparking member and, the wick, and in this embodi ment this object is secured by having the cover, a vertically movable one may be used as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the wick cover is a thimble-like member 31, pivoted on an upstanding bearing 32, for vertical movement and having an arm 33 in the path of the nose 22. The thimble 31 enters the opening in the vapor chamber, and may have a lateral flange 34 to completely close said opening. Also it is to be observed that the invention viewed in certain aspects, contemplatesthat the vapor chamber may be omitted.

In the modification illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. -7, the abrader member is indicated at 35, rotatively mounted on a standard 36 and having a manually operable lever 37 fi'xedto the shaft of the abrader and to which one end of a lever actuating spring 38 is connected, the other end of the spring being fixed to a pin 39 on the fuel reservoir 1. The sparking member appears at 40, being held in a tube 41, the spring 42 and screw 43 serving to effect contact between the abrader and sparker. The wick is indicated at 44, and may have a removable cover, not shown. ()n pressing the lever 37 to the left (Fig. 7) the spring 38 will be tensioned so that, on release of the lever, it will rotate the abrader 35, and cause sparking and ignition of the wick. Thus by the above described construction are accomplished, among others, the objects hereinbefore referred to. Y

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and difierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from-the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description 'or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A portable lighter including, in combination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring operatively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said parts to produce sparking, a wick cover, means including a manually operable lever fixed to said abrader and operatively connected to impart to said spring the tension required to effect said relative movement and to impart opening movement to said cover preliminary to said sparking, and means mounting said cover for movement from open to closed position while said lever is in spring retracted position.

2. A portable lighter including, in combination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring operatively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said parts to produce 7 sparking, a wick cover, and a manually operable lever operatively connected to impart to said spring the tension required to effect said relative movement and to impart opening movement to said cover preliminary to said sparking, said operative connections including an arm carried by said cover adapt ed to be moved by said lever to impart said opening movement, and a spring adapted to coact to move saidarm out of operative relation to said lever at the end of said opening movement 3. A portable lighter including, in combination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring operatively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said parts to produce sparking, a rotable shaft to which one end of said spring is connected, said abrader being a wheel afiixed to said shaft, a manually operable lever aifixed to said shaft, and a pivoted wick cover having an arm, said lever having a nose movable in a path intersecting that of said arm.

4. A portable lighter including, in combination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring operatively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said parts to produce sparking, a rotatable shaft to which one end of said spring is connected, said abrader being a wheel affixed to said shaft, a manually operable levcr aflixed to said shaft, a

pivoted wick cover having an arm, said lever having a nose movable in a path intersecting. that of said arm, a wick, and a chamber enclosing said wheel and the lighting end of said wick, having an opening adapted to be closed by said cover.

5. In aportable lighter, in combination, amanually operable leverfa shaft aiiixed to said lever to be rotated by rotation of the latter, a shaft rotating helical spring connected to said shaft and to a relatively stationary part of the lighter, a sparking member, an abrader member, oneof said members being rotative with said shaft, a wick. a pivotally mounted cover for the top of said wick, and a cover actuating arm in the path of movement of said lever.

B. In a portable lighter, in combination, a manually operable lever, a shaft aflixed to said lever to be rotated by rotation of the latter, a shaft rotating helical spring connected to said shaft and to a relatively stationary part of the li hter, a sparking member, an abrader mem er, one of said members being rotative with said shaft, a wick, and a vapor chamber in which the top of said Wick lies having a removable cover above said wick.

7. In a portable lighter, in combination, a manually operable lever, a shaft affixed to said lever to-be rotated by rotation of the latter, a shaft rotating helical spring con nected to said shaft and to a relatively stationary part of the lighter, a sparking member, an abrader member, one of saidmembers being rotative with said shaftfa wick, a vaporchamber in which the top ot-said wick lies having a removable cover above said wick, and operative connections where by movement of said lever inone direction of rotation removes said cover. 8. A portable lighter including, in combination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring op'eratively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said abrader and member to produce sparking, a manually operable lever operable in one direction to impart to said spring the tension required to eflect said relative movement and retracted in the opposite direction by said spring, a wick cover movable to open and closed positions, and means whereby movement of said lever to tension said spring is adapted to cause opening movement of said cover.

9. A portable lighter including, in rombination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring operatiyely connected to cause relative abrading movement between said abrader and member to produce sparking, a manually operable lever operable in one direction to impart to said spring the tension required to effect said relative movement and retracted in the opposite direction by said spring,a wick cover movable to open, and closed positions, and means whereby movement of said lever to tensionisaid spring is, adapted to cause opening movement of said cover, said cover mounted for closing movement, independently of said lever, between successive spring-retracted sparking movements between said abrader and sparking member.

10. A portable lighter including, in com bination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring opera atively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said abrader and member to produce sparking, a manually operable lever operable in one direction to impart to said spring. the tension required to effect said relative movement, and retracted in the opposite direction by saidspring, a wick cover movable to open and closed positions, and

said spring the tension required to effect said.

relative movement, and retracted in the opposite direction by said spring, a wick cover movable to open and closed positions, a fuel reservoir on the outside of which said sparking member, abrader, lever and cover are mounted closely adjacent each other, said lever including a protruding, finger-manipu lative lever-arm portion, freely accessible laterally of the lighter, the lever arm beingmovable laterally into and out of contact with the lighter.

12. A portable lighter including, in combination, a sparking member, an abrader adapted to contact therewith, a spring operatively connected to causerelative abrading movement between said abrader and member to produce sparking, a manually operable lever operable in one direction to impart to.

atively connected to cause relative abrading movement between said abrader and member to produce sparking, a manually operable lever operable in one direction to impart to said spring the tension required to effect said relative movement and retracted in the opposite direction by said spring, a wick cover movable to open and closed positions,

and means whereby movement of said lever to tension said spring is adapted to cause opening movement of said cover, said lever adapted for repeated spring-tensioning and retractive movements while said cover is open.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GIANNI BETTINI. 

